Michigan

Former U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra gets a hug from former Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land as he accepts the republican endorsement for U.S. Senate Wednesday at the Kent County Republican Headquarters.
(MLive.com File Photo)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Pete Hoekstra, the former West Michigan congressman who got trounced in last year's Senate election, has endorsed Terri Lynn Land's bid for the post.

Hoekstra, who also unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010, announced his support for Land in an email blast through her campaign.

In a statement, Hoekstra contended he had an uphill battle he fought against Sen. Debbie Stabenow that Land, a former secretary of state, does not face running for Sen. Carl Levin's seat.

"I ran for United States Senate in a difficult Presidential election year against a female candidate with a history of winning statewide elections," Hoekstra said.

"Well, guess what, the tables are turned," he added. "Terri Lynn Land is a female candidate running in a gubernatorial election year and has a record of winning statewide elections by historic margins."

Hoekstra lost to Stabenow by nearly 21 points. He struggled to compete with Stabenow financially, and suffered fallout after his infamous Super Bowl ad was blasted by some as racist.

His endorsement comes after reports of Republican malaise with the Senate race, and some say that Land has failed to ignite interest in the party.

Land is the only GOP contender to announce a run. U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, R-Cascade Township, has expressed interest but refuses to say whether he'll make a bid.

Other notable politicians have bowed out. U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers and Dave Camp each said no, citing their commitments to the powerful House committees they chair.

Democrats, on the other hand, have rallied behind U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills. No other big-name candidates have said they will seek that party's nomination.

A recent poll did, however, show that Peters and Land both had gained equal support.

In Wednesday's email, Hoekstra pointed to Macomb County GOP Chairman Rob Montilla's endorsement of Land as backup for his own.

Montilla issued a memo that reiterates how Land was elected Secretary of State in years that favored Democrats.

Election watchers have waffled on whether Democrats will maintain control of the U.S. Senate, and also vary in their perceptions of whether Republicans can keep the House.

Zane McMillin is a government, weather and breaking news reporter for MLive.com and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.